High-speed rail one piece of the carbon emission puzzle

This Feb. 26, 2015 file photo shows a full-scale mock-up of a high-speed train, displayed at the Capitol in Sacramento, Calif.

This Feb. 26, 2015 file photo shows a full-scale mock-up of a high-speed train, displayed at the Capitol in Sacramento, Calif. (AP)

U-T Letter writers

Re “It’s time to consider a federal carbon tax — and to confront NIMBYism” (Nov. 28): While the U-T editorial staff advocating a carbon tax is heartening , its continuous vilification of the California High-Speed Rail project is disheartening. Admittedly, financial management has been poor and lacks transparency. However, ample data exists showing high-speed rail emits far less carbon than aviation or automobile transportation

A recent European study in found that emissions per passenger per kilometer for high-speed rail were 11 percent to 29 percent less than for aviation in routes comparable to California. The consulting firm Oxera found that automobiles emit three times as much carbon as high-speed rail.

Considering California's population growth and decarbonization policies, high-speed rail would help us meet our emissions targets.

The recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and National Climate Assessment reports tell us all means of curbing carbon emissions must be considered in any serious discussion addressing climate change. The U-T editorial staff's seemingly contradictory positions can be reconciled by refraining from using "boondoggle" when referring to California's high-speed rail project.